2012 quarter 1 • northern asia-pacific division · 2012•quarter 1 • northern asia-pacific...
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2012•QUARTER 1 • NORTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION
C H I L D R E N ’ S M A G A Z I N E
www.AdventistMiss ion.org
©2012 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® - All rights reserved.
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601
800.648.5824 - www.AdventistMission.org
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4 Happy Birthday! | January 7
MONGOLIA
6 Finding God in Mongolia | January 14
8 Binderya’s Joy | January 21
10 Making Music for God | January 28
12 Lessons of Life | February 4
JAPAN
14 Mission to School | February 11
16 Looking for God’s Answers | February 18
18 Missionary Kids for God | February 25
KOREA 20 Quincy Shares His Gift | March 3 22 A Welcome Place | March 10
CHINA/TAIWAN 24 What About the Idol? | March 17 26 Standing Up for Jesus | March 24
RESOURCES 28 Thirteenth Sabbath Program 30 Next Quarter’s Projects 31-33 Activities 35 Resources/Masthead 36 Map
O n the Cover: This year the mission quarterlies and Thirteenth Sabbath Offering celebrate 100 years.
C o n t e n t s
Y o u r O f f e r i n g s a t W o r k
Last time Northern Asia-Pacific Division received your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, part of it helped to build a recording studio in Taiwan, where programs are produced to reach the Chinese-speaking people of the world. Thank you for giving so that others can know our precious Jesus.
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This quarter features the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, which includes the countries of China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan. Almost 1.6 billion people live in this region, of which fewer than 650,000 are Seventh-day Adventists. That means that about one person out of every 2,440 is an Adventist.
Special Yearlong CelebrationThis year marks the centennial of
the mission quarterlies, which were first produced in 1912. Throughout the year we will feature at least one story that appeared in Children’s Mission over the years, and some additional stories relating to the history of the mission offerings. Look for these special features each quarter.
Offering DeviceThe special children’s project will
help provide programming for children in the Chinese language. Photocopy or draw a simple map of the world. Place a drawing or picture of a video camera, a microphone, or a computer in Northern Asia-Pacific. Each week that you reach your predetermined offering goal, draw a “sound wave” (an arc that flows out from the camera or computer) that by the end of the quarter will extend across the map.
Special Features Adventist Mission DVD this quarter
contains several stories from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, including one specifically for children. Ask the adult Sabbath School superintendent to make a copy of the DVD for you to share with your children.
Decorate the Room with pictures of people and scenic places in Northern Asia. Print copies of the flags representing Northern Asia-Pacific and invite the children to color them. Post them as part of the quarter’s decorations.
More Activities, including recipes, games, and puzzles, are available on our website at www.AdventistMission.org. Click on “Resources” and “Children’s Activities.” Click on the current quarter.
Yours in His service,
Dear Sabbath School Leader,
O p p o r t u n i t i e sThis quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help:
provide a church for an international congregation in Seoul, Korea
build a youth training center in Mongolia
provide a church for a congregation in southern Japan
prepare videos for use on television and the Internet for Chinese-speaking people around the world
CHILDREN’S PROJECT: Children’s programming in Chinese
Everyone loves birthdays. It’s such fun to receive a card or small gift on
your birthday. Who is the oldest person you know?
Is it your grandfather? Your great-grandmother? Maybe it’s a neighbor or a member of your church. How old are they?
Have you ever met someone who was 100 years old? Have you ever asked them to tell you a story of what life was like when they were young? Maybe they would tell you about riding to church in an open wagon pulled by a horse. Or perhaps they would tell you about a brush fire that almost burned down their barn.
A Special BirthdayThis year we’re celebrating a special
birthday. It’s the birthday of the mission quarterlies. They’re 100 years old! It’s also the 100th birthday of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering, that special offering
we give at the end of each quarter that helps build schools, clinics, hospitals, churches, and lots of other projects to help people learn about God. This quarter our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help produce Chinese-language video programs to show on television and on the Internet so that Chinese-speaking people around the world can learn that Jesus loves them.
And just like some older people, we have lots of stories about “the early days” of Adventist Mission. We’ll be telling you some of these stories throughout the year.
Early Mission ProjectsLong before there were mission
quarterlies and mission stories every week, there were mission offerings. The first mission offering that Sabbath School members gave for a specific project was used to build a boat called the Pitcairn. The Pitcairn was so special
Happy Birthday, Mission!
January 7
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that everyone—even young children—wanted to help build their boat. It was finished and sailed from California to the South Pacific in 1890. That’s about 122 years ago.
The Pitcairn carried missionaries to the islands of the Pacific. It was named after Pitcairn Island, a famous island in history that we’ll hear more about later this year.
Early Mission StoriesImagine what it must have been
like 100 or more years ago. Cars were still a novelty; and telephones, radios, televisions, computers, and the Internet hadn’t been invented yet. It took weeks for a letter to travel to a distant city and months for news to reach someone in another country!
News of missionaries took a long time to travel from the farthest mission stations in Africa and Asia to the church’s headquarters in the United States. And
the stories captured the imagination of those who heard them.
One of the first Thirteenth Sabbath Offerings went to Japan in 1914. Part of that offering helped build an Adventist boarding school so that Adventist children wouldn’t be forced to attend classes on Sabbath or worship the emperor, a practice that was common at that time. The longed-for school was built, and Adventist students eagerly enrolled.
The Brave GirlOne day Momoko [moh-MOH-koh],
a young girl, returned to her room in the dormitory of her Christian school and discovered a thief stealing things from her room! Instead of screaming and running in terror, Momoko did something quite bold.
She stepped into her room and picked up her New Testament. “Here, take this, too,” she said as bravely as she could while giving the New Testament to the thief. The man took the New Testament and stuffed it into his pocket, gathered up the things he wanted to steal, and fled the school.
Later the thief was caught and sent to prison, and the stolen property was recovered. But Momoko insisted that the thief keep the New Testament, since it was her gift to him.
The thief had lots of time to read while in prison, so he read the New Testament. God’s words touched his heart, and eventually he surrendered his life to Jesus.
God has thousands of ways of reaching a person’s heart. One girl gave her Bible. Others share their faith. We can give our offering to Jesus every Sabbath. That way many more people can hear that God loves them.
F a s t F a c t s In 1912 the countries that now make
up Northern Asia-Pacific Division had about 1,400 members meeting in 26 churches. There were 95 missionaries and literature evangelists serving in the countries of China, Japan, and Korea.
Today almost 650,000 Adventists worship in more than 6,000 churches and companies in China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea. It is unknown how many Adventists live in North Korea. In spite of the growth in Adventist membership, only about one person out of every 2,500 is an Adventist.
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Welcome to Mongolia, a landlocked country squeezed between China
and Russia. [Locate Mongolia on a map.] Mongolian culture is one of the oldest in the world. At one time the Mongols, as the people of Mongolia are known, formed the largest empire in the world under the leadership of Genghis Khan, a fierce warrior.
For hundreds of years the people of Mongolia have moved their herds of horses, camels, sheep, and goats across the vast grasslands that stretch over the hills and plains of Mongolia. Even today you can see Mongolian cowboys riding behind their herds not far from the cities.
Some of these nomadic people still live in portable homes called
gers [gehrs]. [Show a picture of a ger.] Their homes keep them warm during the bitterly cold winters. But many Mongolians are leaving their nomadic life and moving to the cities, where they hope to find an easier life. Some bring their ger with them and live in them right in the city.
Oognah Discovers GodOognah [OOG-nah] and her family
moved from the countryside to the city when she was a little girl. She enjoys making flowers and birds from paper. This
skill is called origami [oh-ree-GAH-mee], or paper folding. She has a younger brother, Jakna [JAHK-nah], who is 7 years old.
Most Mongolians are not Christians.
“Going to church has changed me,” Oognah
says. “Now I’m happier, and I don’t get angry as
I used to.”
Finding God in Mongolia
MONGOLIA | January 14
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Oognah’s grandparents once worshipped at a shrine to a god made of stone. But during Communist times it was forbidden to practice religion, so many people abandoned their faith.
Oognah had never gone to a Christian church until a friend at school invited her to visit her church. Oognah was curious to see what people did in church, so she went. She liked the church service and went with her friend for about a year. Then the church moved, and she couldn’t go anymore. Oognah wished she could find another church to attend.
Then one day her cousin invited her to attend a different church on Sabbath morning. Oognah’s parents agreed, so on Sabbath morning Oognah and her cousin walked to the Adventist church not far from her home. “I liked my cousin’s church,” Oognah said. “I especially like the children’s classes. It’s fun to sing songs about God and learn Bible stories.”
Bringing Little BrotherOognah liked church so much that
she invited her little brother, Jakna, to go. Jakna loved the children’s Sabbath School! One Sabbath Oognah’s teacher gave her a Sabbath School lesson quarterly. Now she enjoys reading the lesson to her brother during the week.
“Going to church has changed me,” Oognah says. “I used to get mad easily if someone interrupted me or said something that I didn’t like. But since I began coming to church a few months ago, and I’m still learning what it means to follow Jesus, I’m happier, and I don’t get angry as I used to. I help my mother more, and she likes that. And when my brother asks me to read to him, I don’t tell him to go away.
Jakna is glad that Oognah takes him to Sabbath School. He likes to listen to the Bible stories and color the Bible pictures his teacher gives him. “I’m glad that Oognah invited me to go to Sabbath School,” he says.
Sharing God’s LoveOognah’s mother works every day and
cannot go to church with the children. Their father is ill and can’t take them. But Oognah tells her parents what she is learning in church. Oognah is being a missionary by sharing God’s stories with her parents and brother.
Whom can you be a missionary to this week? Perhaps you can invite someone to come to church with you next week. Or you can share God’s love with a classmate at school. And when you bring your mission offering to Sabbath School, others who live far away can learn that Jesus loves them, just as Oognah and Jakna are learning.
F a s t F a c t s Mongolia has about 2.8 million
people, a million of whom live in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar [ooh-lahn-BAH-ter].
The first converts after the fall of Communism in Mongolia were baptized in 1993. Today more than 1,600 Adventists in Mongolia worship in 10 churches, companies, and groups. Seven of these church groups are located in the capital city.
Most of the Adventists in Mongolia are under 30 years old.
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Binderya [been-DEHR-yah] sat in the church pew singing songs as
she waited for her mother to finish mopping the floor. Binderya’s mother cleans the church. She says it’s her way of worshipping God. Binderya often helps her mother clean when she doesn’t have classes. “I like helping Mother clean the church,” Binderya says. “It’s my way to thank God for being the king of my life.”
Binderya’s New FriendWhen Binderya’s family moved to
Ulaanbaatar [ooh-lahn-BAH-tr], the capital city of Mongolia, she met a girl named Anojin [AH-noh-jihn]. The two girls became friends, and Anojin invited Binderya to the Adventist church.
“I’d never been to a Christian church before,” Binderya says. “But I liked the program. I especially liked learning to sing songs about Jesus. I tried hard to learn them
so I could sing them for my mother when I went home. I didn’t understand who God was at that time, but the songs made me happy, and I wanted to sing all the time.”
Father’s SurpriseBinderya’s father was often away at
work for days at a time. When he came home one day, Binderya told him that she was attending church with her friend. He was glad and even asked Binderya if he could go to the church with her. Binderya was surprised and so happy!
“I had invited my mother to go to church, but she has hearing problems and was shy about going. She thought people wouldn’t treat her nicely because she couldn’t hear well. But she joined Father and me when we had family prayers together every night.”
Binderya continued inviting her mother to attend church with Father and her, but
Binderya’s Joy
MONGOLIA | January 21
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Mother was too shy to go. People from the church came to visit Mother at their home. They invited her to church too, but still Mother hesitated.
Father’s IllnessThen one day Binderya’s father became
very sick. The doctor wasn’t sure Father would survive. Mother realized that she didn’t know how to pray for Father. She began attending church with Binderya and discovered that the church members really were warm and loving. They prayed with her for Binderya’s father. Mother gave her heart to God.
“Father is well now,” Binderya says, “and now we all worship God together.”
Sharing God’s Love With Others“I’m so glad that my friend invited me to
church, because now my whole family has found joy in Jesus. Father invites people to church—people he meets in the bus, in the stores, wherever he is. I invite my friends to come to church too, but so far they haven’t come. Some say that Christianity is
a foreign religion. I keep inviting them and telling them about God. I know that one day someone will accept.”
Our mission offerings help teach the people of Mongolia that Jesus loves them. Let’s give our offerings with joy because Jesus loves us all.
M i s s i o n P o s t The first Adventist missionaries to
Mongolia were Russians who began working there in 1926. But Communism entered Mongolia a few years later, and the work stopped.
In 1991 missionaries again entered Mongolia, and two years later the first Adventist Christians were baptized. Today more than 1,600 Adventists worship in 10 churches and companies in Mongolia. The majority of believers are young people.
Several years ago a Thirteenth Sabbath Offering helped several congregations buy buildings to serve as churches or enlarge existing buildings so congregations can grow.
Following are some Mongolian words and phrases. Vowel sounds are pronounced as follows: ah as in father; ai as in eye; ee as in bee; eh as in bet; ih as in tip; oh as in toe; oo as in boot. Roll the r. The accented syllables are written in capital letters.
P H R A S E P R O N U N C I AT I O N
Happy Sabbath shah-bah-TEEN mihnd Hello sahn-noh Thank you bai-EHR-lah You’re welcome dzoo-GEHR Yes teem No oo-GWEE Goodbye bai-ERH-teh
F u n W i t h M o n g o l i a n , 1
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Hongra (hong-rah),” Grandmother said gently. “The music you are
listening to is not good for children. The beat is strong, and the words put bad ideas into your head.”
Hongra was just 5 years old. She lives in the country of Mongolia with her parents and grandmother. Hongra loves music and had discovered rock music on the radio. She began dancing to the beat, and soon was repeating the words to the music. Some of it was really bad, and it worried her grandmother.
“But I like music,” Hongra told Grandmother.
Invitation to a New World“Come with me to church,”
Grandmother invited. “You will hear wonderful music that will fill your heart with good things.” Hongra had never been
to a church before, but she agreed to go with her grandmother.
“When I entered the church, I heard the people singing praises to God,” Hongra said. “I liked the music! As I learned to sing along with the other children, I liked it even more. I wanted to go to church every Sabbath. It was like a whole new way of living and thinking.
“A lot of children my age attend our church, and that makes me feel more comfortable.”
Hongra’s parents don’t go to church with her, but they’re happy that she goes with Grandmother. Sometimes the family listens when Hongra reads the Bible to them. That makes Hongra happy.
Important Lessons“I’ve been attending church for five
years now,” she says. “I feel God has really
Making Music for God
MONGOLIA | January 28
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changed my life. I understand that the music I once liked was bad, and that God has better things for us to listen to.
“I’ve also learned how to forgive. When my little brother broke my precious cup, I was tempted to get mad at him. But I prayed for forgiveness and found that God took the anger away. My parents were impressed when they realized that even though I was hurt, I wasn’t angry. God helped me to be kind.
“My little brother is too young to go to church with me. So I tell him Bible stories and teach him the songs I’ve learned at church. I want him to know about God, even though it’s hard for him to sit and listen.
Praising God“God changed my life through music.
He taught me that His music is so much better than the world’s music. I want to sing to God forever. God is happy to receive our songs of praise if we’re sincere
and want to praise Him.”Boys and girls, we can praise God by
singing, by telling others about Jesus, and by giving our mission offerings on Sabbath morning. How will you praise God today?
M i s s i o n P o s t More than 1,600 Adventist Christians live
in Mongolia. Some worship in a traditional church, and others meet in homes or in rented buildings. But wherever they meet, God meets with them.
Most of the believers in Mongolia are young people. Many are studying in universities in the capital city.
The church needs to train its young people to become leaders in the church. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help build a youth training center at a church-owned campground in the countryside of Mongolia.
Vowel sounds are pronounced as follows: a as in sang; aa as in bad; ah as in father; ai as in eye; ay as in hay; ee as in bee; eh as in bet; oh as in toe; oo as in boot. The accented syllables are written in capital letters.
P H R A S E P R O N U N C I AT I O N
one nihg two hoy-YEHR three gor-OH four DOH-roo five tao six dzohr-GAH seven daw-LAH eight naam nine yoos ten ah-RAO
F u n W i t h M o n g o l i a n , 2
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Mook is 8 years old and in the third grade. Ever since he was little, his
mother has taught him about God. “I’m so glad that I know Jesus,” Mook says. “Many children in Mongolia don’t even know who Jesus is.”
Mook’s New SchoolWhen Mook was ready to start school,
he thought he would attend the same school as his brother. It frightened him a little to think of being in a classroom with many other children he didn’t know.
Then one Sabbath the pastor talked about a new school—an Adventist school. Mook wasn’t sure what an Adventist school was.
After church Mother asked the pastor about the new school. The pastor explained that the church was starting its own school. “The students will study the same subjects as children in public school
do,” he said. “But they will learn from a Christian point of view. They will study the Bible and learn about God. They won’t compete with one another in class, but will be kind to one another and help one another with their studies. And since the teachers are Adventist Christians, the children won’t be taught things that Christians don’t believe.”
“Where is this new school?” Mother asked. “It will be right here in the church,”
the pastor said. “We’ll have to use the church’s classrooms until we can find a suitable building for our school.”
A smile crept over Mother’s face, and Mook realized that she was thinking of sending him to this new church school.
Mother did send Mook to the new Adventist school, and Mook is so glad.
Overcoming Shyness“I used to be really shy and didn’t feel
Lessons of Life
MONGOLIA | February 4
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comfortable talking to people,” Mook says. “But my teachers encourage me to speak in class. I hope that soon I’ll be able to talk to other children in my apartment house. I want to tell them about Jesus and invite them to Sabbath School. Already I’m telling my cousins about Jesus when we spend the summer together.”
Important LessonsMook has learned lots more about God
since he started studying at the Adventist school. He’s learned that he can pray about anything that concerns him. He prays for his father, who doesn’t attend church with the family. “I know that my prayers will make a difference in my father’s life,” he says.
“The best part of attending the Adventist school is that I feel safe there. My teacher is kind and helps me with my lessons. And the children are all friends. I hope more children will be able to attend the Adventist school in Mongolia and learn to love Jesus as I have.”
Boys and girls, our mission offerings are helping introduce children and adults in Mongolia to Jesus in many ways. Let’s do our part by bringing our mission offerings every week. Someday when Jesus takes us to heaven with Him, we’ll meet children who met Jesus because we gave our mission offering.
M i s s i o n P o s t Most people in Mongolia follow the
Buddhist faith or no religion at all. Buddhists don’t worship gods, but they often do bow and pray before the image of Buddha in a temple. They believe that they must live a good life so that when they die they will be reborn into a better situation.
Christians believe that Jesus lived the perfect life, and if we follow Him, He will give us eternal life with Him. Buddhists believe that they must earn their place in a better life.
J E S U S L O V E S M ESee pronunciation guide on page 9 to sing this ever-popular children’s song.
S i n g i n M o n g o l i a n
yeh-soos nah-daht hahr-tah-dahbee-bisch nah-daht hihl-sehn-dehjah-hong hoh-doodt too neech-tehyeh-soos hooch-teh beet-hooch-kwee
C H O R U S :
tah-nah daht hahr-tah (repeat twice)gehch bee-bisch hihl-sehn-deh
meh-nee geh-meek oh-chahl-sahngyeh-soos nah-daht hahr-tah-dahmoong-heen seh hong ah-rahn-dahyeh-soos nah-maag ah-rokh-nah
nom-hong dah roh baa-aa volsch yeh-soos nah-maak hah-dlahn-dahtehn-green hoh-chiht hah soht-lahsnahm-aack oor-gihtsch hahtch bah-dihk
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My name is Ken. My parents come from the Philippines; but my brother
and sister, Mark and Kaycee, and I were born and grew up in Japan, where my father works for a bank.
Challenges and BlessingsWe live in Tokyo, the largest city in the
world. [Locate Tokyo on a map.] There is no Adventist school near our home, so we attend a public school. And all public schools have classes on Sabbath.
But we’re allowed to attend Sabbath School instead. Our Sabbath School teacher signs a paper that says we were in Sabbath School and studied our lessons, and we are excused from school on Sabbath.
But when we enter the seventh grade, we won’t have that permission any longer. The only way we can keep the Sabbath
then is to attend an Adventist school. And there isn’t one where we live.
We love Sabbath and look forward to Sabbath School, church, and the afternoon programs that the church plans for us.
Why is Sabbath so special to us? First, we don’t have to worry about homework, so we can focus on spending the day with God and our family. Second, it’s the only time we can see our Adventist friends. Because we go to different schools, we don’t get to see one another except on Sabbath. That makes Sabbath even more special.
The Faith ChallengeWe’re the only Adventists—and
probably the only Christians—at our school. We spend our days with children and teachers who don’t know about Jesus. Our classmates don’t understand our faith,
School: Our Mission Field
JAPAN | February 11
Ken, Kaycee, and Mark
[Ask a junior-age boy to present this first-person report.]
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and sometimes it’s hard to explain why we love a God we can’t see.
We know that God created the heavens and the earth and made us in His image. But our teachers teach evolution. It’s hard to explain what we know as truth to our friends who don’t know.
Our family talked about how we can share our beliefs, and we decided to give our teachers and our friends Bibles and other literature. But that’s expensive.
God Provides a WayThen last summer at our church’s
retreat, we received Japanese Bibles to give to our friends. My brother, sister, and I took 10 Bibles plus copies of Steps to Christ to give to our teachers and our friends so that they can read for themselves about the God who made us and loves us.
My sister gave a Bible to her friend Mayuko [may-YU-koh]. Mayuko said that she had once attended a Christian church and had heard something about Jesus. She
was glad to have the Bible and plans to read it.
My brother Mark takes his Bible to school with him and reads it when he finishes his class work. The teacher noticed this and realized how important his Bible was to him. So when Mark accidentally left his Bible at the school one Friday, the teacher called to tell him where his Bible was.
Mark gave her one of the Japanese Bibles and often asks her if she’s reading it. He wants to be sure his teacher will get to know God.
The Missing AlarmMark is only 8, but he really shares
his faith! The students in our school all wear an
electronic alarm, like a pendant, around their neck. If a student ever feels that they’re in danger, they can pull the alarm and call for help.
One day Mark lost his alarm, and his teacher was worried about his safety. Mark held out his Bible and told his teacher that God would keep him safe! His teacher smiled and encouraged him to keep his Bible close until he received his new alarm.
Every Chance to ShareSometimes our classmates ask us why
we don’t worship their gods and don’t attend school on Saturdays. We use these opportunities to tell them about God and how much He cares for us.
Japan isn’t a Christian nation, and very few Adventists live there. Please pray that God will use our offerings to share His love with the people who don’t know Him.
F a s t F a c t s Japan is an island nation off the eastern
coast of the Korean Peninsula. The largest city in the world, Tokyo, is in Japan. It is a modern city with many tall buildings. About 35 million people live in the metropolitan Tokyo area.
The Japanese people are deeply traditional and feel honor-bound to observe ancient religious festivals, including worship of their ancestors. But they are not deeply religious. Only four people out of every 100 in Japan are Christians, and only one person out of every 8,300 in Japan is an Adventist.
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Yana and her family live in Tokyo, Japan, the largest city in the world.
Yana and her sister, Jiana [jee-AH-nah], attend a public school because there’s no Adventist school near their home. Yana told her teacher that she wouldn’t attend classes on Sabbath because she and her family worship God on Saturdays. Her teacher gave her permission to be absent as long as she completes her schoolwork.
The Sports MeetYana and Jiana love sports. They were
glad when their school announced that it would have a sports day with competition between classes. The girls practiced hard so they could do well in the competition.
Then they learned that the sports day would be held on Sabbath. Yana told her teacher that she wouldn’t be at the sports day. Her teacher hoped that Yana would decide to take part in the sports day, even
if it was on Sabbath.Yana’s family prayed that God would
use Yana and Jiana’s absence for His glory. On the sports day it rained, and the
competition was postponed until the next day. Yana and her sister jumped for joy when they realized that they could take part in the sports day after all.
The next year the sports meet was again scheduled for Sabbath. Yana and Jiana again practiced hard. Once more it rained, and the sports meet was postponed until Sunday. And again the girls took part.
God’s Other PlanThen last year the girls prepared for the
sports meet, expecting God to send rain so the sports day would be held on Sunday and they could take part. But on Sabbath morning, the sun shone brightly.
“Why didn’t God send rain this year?” Jiana asked.
Looking for God’s Answers
JAPAN | February 18
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“Maybe God has a different plan this year,” Mother said. “Not everything we pray for is given to us. But we must trust God to know what’s best.” The family went to church and had a lovely day. The next day they held their own sports day in a park. The girls had fun, but it wasn’t the same.
On Monday when the girls returned to school, everyone was talking about the sports meet. “Why weren’t you there?” someone asked Yana. She told them that she had been in church worshipping God.
Yana was sad that she had missed the sports meet, but she realized that her absence had allowed her to tell her friends about God.
Learning to Trust“I am learning to pray about every
situation that comes my way,” Yana says. “And I’m learning to trust God to do what’s best, even if it isn’t what I would wish.”
Boys and girls, learning to trust God
and look for His will in our daily lives is part of growing up in God’s love. God can use us to share His love, even in disappointment. Let’s look for ways to share His love this week.
M i s s i o n P o s t In Japanese schools classes and other
school activities are held on Sabbath. This makes it difficult for Adventist children to keep the Sabbath, especially once they reach junior high school. The church in Japan operates several schools so that Adventist children can study in a Christian school and keep the Sabbath.
Non-Adventist students can study at the Adventist schools too. Here many learn about Jesus for the first time. Our mission offerings help these schools grow. Pray for the children who study in Adventist schools. Pray that the lessons they learn will help them love and honor God all their lives.
F u n W i t h J a p a n e s eFollowing are some Japanese words and phrases to use in your program. Vowel sounds
are pronounced as follows: ah as in far; ai as in eye; ee as in bee; eh as in bet; oh as in toe; oo as in boot; uh as in butter. The accented syllables are written in capital letters.
CO M M O N P H R A S E S P R O N U N C I AT I O N
Welcome YOH-koh-soh Hello koh-NEE-chee-wah Good morning oh-HAI-yoh goh-ZAI-mahs Please DOH-zoh Thank you ah-ree-GAH-toh (trill the r; sounds almost like d) You’re welcome DOH-ee-tah-shee-mah-shee-teh Yes HAI No EE-yeh’ (clipped) Goodbye sai-oh-NAH-rah
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LEADER: Jesus has told us to go into all the world and tell others about
God. That means that wherever there are Christians, there must be missionaries. Someone has said that missionaries go “from everywhere to everywhere.” That means some will leave their home in Africa or India or Asia or North America or South America and travel to another country to share God’s love. In the Adventist Church this happens a lot.
If we were to put a pin in the map to show where every missionary or mission volunteer is from and put a string from that pin to where they serve, our map would look like a huge spider web. That’s the way God wants it to be.
Today we have two young missionary kids with us. Wonbin [wawn-BIN] and his sister, Yewon [yeh-WAWN], are from Korea. They and their parents spent five
years as missionaries in Japan. Let’s ask them what it was like to be missionary kids.
Where did your family serve as missionaries in Japan?
WONBIN: We lived on an island in southern Japan. [Locate Japan on a map. Point to the southernmost islands.] My father is a pastor, and we volunteered to help raise up a church on an island where there were just a few believers.
LEADER: Was it hard leaving your home to move to another country?
YEWON: I was really little when we moved to Japan, so it’s been like home to me. But I think it was harder for our parents. We all had to learn Japanese, but Wonbin and I learned faster than our parents did! Sometimes we helped them when they didn’t know a word.
Missionary Kids for God
JAPAN | February 25
Wonbin and Yewon
[Ask a primary or junior boy and girl to help present this program. Wonbin is a boy, 10; Yewon is a girl, 8.]
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WONBIN: We would speak Japanese at school and while playing with our friends. But at home we spoke Korean. Our parents wanted us to know our language when it was time to return to Korea.
LEADER: What was the hardest part about being a missionary?
WONBIN: It was a little hard making friends at school. And often there were no children in Sabbath School, so we had to read quietly while the adults had their lesson. Sometimes Mother would tell us Bible stories if another child came to church. We couldn’t sing, and Mother had to whisper when she told us the story so we didn’t disturb the adults.
LEADER: Could you share your faith with your friends at school?
WONBIN: I tried. But when I’d tell my classmates about Jesus, they didn’t understand. Most of them hadn’t heard about God before. I’d tell them that I’m a Christian and I go to church on Sabbath,
but they couldn’t understand. They just wanted me to play on Sabbath. I invited them to church, but their parents wouldn’t let them go. Some of my friends worship their ancestors.
YEWON: I talked to one friend about Jesus and asked if she knew who He was. She said she’d never heard about Jesus. That’s so sad!
LEADER: Do either of you want to be a missionary when you grow up?
YEWON: Yes! I want to be a missionary like my mom! She found good ways to tell others about Jesus. And our parents showed us that kindness can make friends out of strangers. I want to be that kind of friend to others.
LEADER: Korea has more Christians than Japan has, but still many people there need to know about Jesus. How can you share God’s love in Korea?
WONBIN: I can be a good example to others by being kind and helpful, playing nicely with other children, and showing others what God is like.
LEADER: Do either of you want to say something to children around the world?
YEWON: Yes! We don’t have to leave our homeland to tell others about God’s love. Jesus wants us to share God’s love wherever we are!
LEADER: Thank you, children, for telling us about being a missionary—wherever we are. And thank you, children, for your weekly mission offering that helps support missionaries such as Wonbin and Yewon.
M i s s i o n P o s t Wonbin and Yewon left their
homeland of Korea with their parents to share God’s love with people who didn’t know Jesus.
For five years the family made friends for Jesus among the Japanese people on the island of Amami Oshima [ah-MAH-mee OH-shee-mah] in southern Japan. Today a congregation of believers worships in a room above a shop. Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on March 26 will help provide a church where these believers can worship God and bring their friends.
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Quincy is 6 years old and in the first
grade. But already he’s discovered that there are lots of ways to share his faith with others.
Quincy loves to do lots of things. He loves science and enjoys making robots. He plays soccer and table tennis. He likes to read books and go skiing. But most of all Quincy loves music. He plays the violin and piano.
Quincy was born in the Philippines and moved to Korea with his parents when he was just a year old. He speaks Korean and attends a Korean public school. Because he is a Seventh-day Adventist, he tells his teacher that he won’t be at school on Sabbath. His teacher understands that his religious faith is important to him, but she
still urges him to be in class on Sabbaths.
Sometimes his classmates ask him why he wasn’t at school on Saturday, especially when there is a special group project or a sports day.
Then Quincy explains that Sabbath is God’s special day, and he wants to be in church and worship God. Some of his friends understand, but others don’t know who Jesus is.
Quincy doesn’t mind missing classes—even fun ones—on Sabbath. He wants to be in church, worshipping God with his family. “I enjoy being in church,” he says.
Discovering a New TalentQuincy wanted to learn to play the
violin, so his mother took him to a music
Quincy Shares His Gift
KOREA | March 3
Quincy
He decided to play in the competition, but when he arrived he
realized that he was the youngest contestant.
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store to try out some violins. Quincy tried to play the violin in the store and found that he could play, even though he had never had a lesson. Mother bought the little violin, and Quincy began learning to play it.
A few weeks later the owner of the music store called Quincy’s mother and invited her to enter Quincy in a musical competition. Quincy wasn’t so sure he could play well enough. He still didn’t read music well, and he played most songs by ear. He decided to play in the competition, but when he arrived he realized that he was the youngest contestant. Most of the other kids were in middle school or high school, and he was in first grade. But everyone was nice to him, and he enjoyed playing in the competition.
Another Opportunity to PlayA few weeks later a violin teacher
who knew the owner of the store where
Quincy’s parents had bought his violin invited him to play with a group of musicians. Quincy agreed, and again was surprised that most of the musicians were in high school. But the other musicians liked having Quincy play violin in their group. They practiced together after school for several days before performing. “It was fun,” Quincy says, smiling.
Quincy doesn’t just play for the fun of it. If someone needs a pianist, he tries to fill in. “Sometimes if there isn’t a pianist at church, I play for song service,” he says. “I play my violin with the church orchestra, too.”
Quincy isn’t taking music lessons right now. “They cost too much,” he says. “So I just practice on my own.”
Ministry of Music Quincy uses his music as a means of
sharing God’s love with others. But he finds other ways to tell people about Jesus, too. “When my friends ask why I’m not at school on Sabbath, I tell them that my family and I worship God on Sabbath, His holy day. If they don’t know much about God, I tell them whatever I can. Some of them know who Jesus is, but others don’t. I tell them that Jesus wants us to be kind and loving to one another. And when we argue or do bad things, it makes Jesus sad.”
Quincy would like to tell other children to do their best in school, and if they have a special talent, use it for God.
Quincy attends an international church in Seoul, Korea. [Locate Korea on a map.] Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help build a church for this congregation. Let’s bring a big offering on March 31 so that Quincy’s growing church has a place to meet.
F a s t F a c t s South Korea is located on a beautiful
mountainous peninsula east of China. The people speak Korean.
North Korea and South Korea were once part of the same country. But just a little more than 50 years ago a war tore the country apart. North Korea is still a Communist country, and religion is strongly discouraged.
We have no idea how many Adventist believers live in North Korea, but South Korean Christians pray constantly that God will make it possible for them to share their faith with relatives and friends across the border.
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Maria is 8 years old and in the second grade. She was born in Indonesia, but
now she lives in Korea. [Locate Indonesia and Korea on a map and draw a line from one to the other.] Maria likes to skate and read books and use her parents’ computer to find information on the Internet.
A Lonely TimeMaria’s family moved to Korea when
Maria was 5 years old. She spoke only Indonesian. Her family searched for a church in the big city, but most of the churches worshipped in Korean. The people were nice to her, but Maria felt lonely because she couldn’t understand the teacher or the children who tried to talk to her. “It’s lonely when you don’t understand,” Maria says. After a few weeks at that church Maria didn’t want to go anymore. “I wanted to be able to talk to the children and my teacher.”
Maria’s father speaks English, and he wanted Maria and her brother to learn English. So Maria’s parents enrolled them in an English-language school. Soon Maria didn’t feel so alone anymore, for all the children were learning English together.
A New ChurchThen her parents found a church
in which English was spoken. It’s an international church where most of the members come from other countries. They understood how Maria felt, for they, too, are living in a foreign country. The children welcomed Maria into their Sabbath School, and at last she could understand the Bible stories that the teacher was telling.
“I like our new church,” Maria says. “The children and teachers are friendly. And I can understand what they’re saying. In fact, I can hardly wait for Sabbath to
A Welcome Place
KOREA | March 10
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come now. I like the Bible stories best.” Once Maria had learned some English,
her parents enrolled her in an Adventist school, where she is studying Korean and English, and even a little Chinese. But her favorite part of the day is Bible class, where she can learn even more about Jesus.
Maria the MissionaryMaria wants others to know that Jesus
loves them. “I’m in a different country from the one where I was born,” she says. “But I can let my light shine wherever I am. I want everyone to know about Jesus. I want them to tell other children about God and let their light shine for Jesus, wherever they are.
“I’m glad that my parents found a church where we can worship God in a language we understand. I like my church! And so do a lot of other people. We’re growing, and our building is too small for us all. The children need their own Sabbath School room.”
This quarter part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help Maria’s church build a simple building that is large enough for everyone who wants to come to find a welcome place in which to worship God.
M i s s i o n P o s t South Korea has a larger percentage
of Christians than any other country in northern Asia. Even so, a large percentage of the population follows Buddhism, a religion based on good works and thoughts.
About one person in every 250 is a Seventh-day Adventist. But most churches worship in the Korean lan-guage. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help provide a church for a congregation of immigrants, people who come from other countries to live and work in Korea.
J E S U S L O V E S M E
S i n g i n K o r e a n
Yeh soo sah dahng hah shee muhnKaw rook hah sheen mar ihlr sehOo dee too ren yahk hah nah Yeh soo kwan seh mahn toh dah
C H O R U S
Nahlr sah dahng hah sheem (repeat three times)Son gyong eh soo sho neh
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Ah Tan is 10 years old. She lives in southern
China. [Locate China on a map.] She loves to draw pictures. She used to draw pictures of her friends and family, but now she draws pictures of Jesus.
The Idol Guan YinIt seemed that everyone in Ah Tan’s
family was sick. Father had painful kidney stones, and Mother often felt weak and dizzy. And when Ah Tan ran high fevers, her mother had to take her to the doctor. Every doctor visit cost a day’s wages.
Ah Tan’s family had an idol named Guan Yin. It was the only god Ah Tan knew. The family gave gifts to the idol and prayed for better health. But the family members still got sick.
Then one day Ah Tan’s mother found a piece of paper on the family’s doorstep.
She picked it up and read it. It was about Jesus. The pamphlet said that Jesus was kind and loving and powerful, the only true God.
Mother talked to Ah Tan about what the paper said. Ah Tan had never heard of Jesus before. She didn’t realize that a god could be kind or loving. Mother wondered, too, whether Guan Yin was worthy of their worship. After all, the idol did not make the family well when they prayed. Perhaps Jesus was more powerful than Guan Yin.
Getting to Know JesusMother decided to learn more about
Jesus. She talked to Father about this new God, and Father asked Mother to find out more about this God named Jesus.
Ah Tan’s neighbor was a Christian,
What About the Idol?
CHINA | March 17
Ah Tan
She watched as her mother and father broke the idol and
threw it into the trash.
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so Mother asked her questions about Jesus. The neighbor invited Mother to church the following Saturday. Mother gladly accepted.
Mother went with her neighbor to the simple Adventist church. As she sat listening to the sermon, Mother began to feel sick. She got up and walked outside. Then she walked home. By the time she arrived home, she was feeling better. The next week she went to church with her neighbor again, and again she became sick. But as soon as she left the church she felt better. This happened several times.
But Mother wouldn’t give up. She wanted to know more about God. Soon she realized that Satan was making her sick to keep her from learning about God. Mother decided to become a Christian.
Father began attending church with Mother. When the believers learned about the family’s health problems, they prayed for the family. After that, Mother
and Father were not troubled by weakness or pain. Even Ah Tan, who did not yet attend church, stopped having the mysterious fevers.
What About the Idol?Mother wanted to be baptized, but
first she had to destroy the idol, Guan Yin. When Ah Tan learned this, she cried, “Oh, no, Mother! You must not destroy the idol! It is very expensive! Can’t we sell it?”
“If we do not get rid of the idol,” her mother explained, “then we cannot expect Jesus to answer our prayers. We know now that Guan Yin has no power.” Ah Tan thought about this and finally agreed to let Mother destroy the idol. She watched as her mother and father broke the idol and threw it into the trash.
Ah Tan Loves JesusAh Tan wanted to be baptized, but
the church leaders explained that the government in China didn’t like it when children were baptized. Disappointed, Ah Tan studied the Bible with her parents. Then a few months ago the church members spent an afternoon at a pond in the countryside. There Ah Tan was baptized. Because of the government’s rules, she didn’t tell her school friends.
Ah Tan is glad that Jesus is her friend now. She wants to encourage children in the whole world to believe in God and trust Him so Satan cannot pull them down.
Let’s pray for the thousands of children in China who need to know that Jesus loves them. And let’s remember to bring our mission offerings so even more children can learn to love Jesus.
[Close with prayer.]
F a s t F a c t s China has almost 1.4 billion people,
or one out of every five people on the earth. China is the most populous country in the world. A little more than 400,000 Chinese, or one in every 3,400 people, is an Adventist Christian.
The traditional religions of China are Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. People often practiced traditions of all three religions. In 1949 the Chinese Communist government officially did away with organized religion.
There are few Christians in China, and many were imprisoned for their beliefs during the most difficult years of Communist rule.
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Lin lives in China. She is 11 years old and in the fifth grade. Lin wants to
be a teacher when she grows up. She has already taught her younger sister, Chee, to read.
Lin would like to travel to another country and visit a church on Sabbath. If she could go, she would greet them by saying, “Nee how” [hello]. Then she would say to them, “I am a girl from China. I want to be your friend. I hope you can come to China one day and we can worship God together.”
Sharing Her FaithIt is difficult for children in China to
share their faith in Jesus with their friends. Many parents do not want their children to be Christians. But Lin has learned to share her love for Jesus in quiet ways.
One time her class was having a test.
Some of her classmates wore chains around their necks with little idols on them. During the test the children sometimes touched the idol. This was their way of worshipping the idol and asking the god it represents to help them pass the test.
One of Lin’s classmates asked Lin why she didn’t wear an idol around her neck. Lin explained that she doesn’t worship an idol. “What do you worship?” her friend asked her. Lin told her friend that she is a Christian and worships the living God, the God who made the heaven and the earth.
Lin explained that God had created everything—the world, the stars, the trees, the sea, and all the animals. She said that Jesus is God’s Son, and that He came to live on earth so that people could see what God is like and know that He loves
Standing Up for Jesus
CHINA | March 24
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them. “He’s alive,” she said. “He hears our prayers and answers them because He cares for us.”
Science TeacherA few days later Lin’s science teacher
told the class, “Who believes in God?” Lin and another student stood. The teacher told the class, “We don’t need gods; we have evolution!”
After school that day some of Lin’s friends asked her why she had stood up in class. “Look around you,” Lin said. “How could so many kinds of trees and flowers and birds just come into existence by chance? God created the world; He left nothing to chance.” She told her friends how God made Adam and Eve and placed them in a beautiful garden. God told Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, but they disobeyed. And ever since then the world has known sin and death.
Lin is a good missionary. She’s not afraid to stand up for her faith. And she doesn’t feel bad when someone laughs
at her. She hopes that other children will want to know about Jesus because she has stood for her faith. Then she can introduce them to her Best Friend.
This quarter part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help tell adults and children who speak Chinese that Jesus loves them.
F a s t F a c t s Besides the millions of people in China
who speak Chinese, millions more Chinese-speaking people live around the world. In the United States Chinese is the fourth most common language.
Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help make video programs that can air on television and over the Internet so that the Chinese-speaking adults and children in every land can know that Jesus loves them and wants to be their friend forever.
J E S U S L O V E S M E
S i n g i n C h i n e s e
Yay-soo ai waw waw jur dowEen yoh sheng jeeng gow soo wawYoh shee-ow hai tong tah moo youngTah muhn roo-en raw joo guhng chi-uhng.
C H O R U S
Joo yay soo ai waw,Joo yay soo ai waw,Joo yay soo ai waw,Yoh sheng jing gow soo waw.
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T h i r t e e n t h S a b b a t h P r o g r a m
Participants and Props: Large flags of China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. Ask six kindergarten-age children to carry the flags across the platform; one or two primary- or junior-age children to read the narrators’ parts; and six primary children to present the specific projects. If you don’t have enough children to take these parts, ask two more narrators to alternate taking the children’s parts.
Narrator 1: The Northern Asia-Pacific Division is made up of six countries. Each presents its own challenges to finishing the work of God.
Narrator 2: [Child 1 carries Chinese flag across the platform and stands at the far
side.] China, the world’s most populous nation with almost 1.4 billion people, is opening its borders to the world. But with a little more than 400,000 believers, only one in every 3,400 is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. Pray that God will use His children to light the lamps of faith throughout this vast nation. Narrator 1: [Child 2 carries Japanese flag across the platform and stands next to child 1.] Japan is rich and increased in goods, but the people don’t know that Jesus died for them. The church in Japan has a little more than 15,000 members, one Adventist believer for about every 8,300 people. Most of the believers are elderly, and only a few are baptized each year. Pray that God will raise up an army of youth who will share their faith in Japan.
If your division will present the Thirteenth Sabbath program for the adults, practice singing “Jesus Loves Me” in Mongolian, Korean, and Chinese (see pages 13, 23, and 27); remind parents of the program; and encourage the children to bring their Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.
If your division will not join the adults, ask some juniors and adults to present the program below.
Remind the children to bring their
Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Tell them that it is their gift to Jesus and the children He loves around the world. Make the offering a big event in Sabbath School. Let the children know how much they have brought for missions during the quarter. Count the money given on Thirteenth Sabbath and tell the children the total. Praise them for what they have done and let them know that their offerings will make a big difference to children in northern Asia.
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Narrator 2: [Child 3 carries Mongolian flag across platform.] Mongolia’s first new believers in generations were baptized just 18 years ago. Most of the country’s 1,600 believers are young people who are eager to share their faith with others. Pray that they will grow strong in faith and mighty in church leadership in one of the oldest cultures in the world.
Narrator 1: [Child 4 carries North Korean flag across platform.] No one knows how many Christians or how many Adventist believers live in North Korea. But the few who have made their way out of this closed nation give reason to hope. Pray that the doors of North Korea will open so that the gospel may flood in and feed hungry hearts with the bread of life.
Narrator 2: [Child 5 carries South Korean flag across platform.] South Korea is the most “Christian” nation in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division. Still, just a third of the population of Korea professes to be Christians, and about one person in every 250 is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. But in spite of the best efforts to evangelize the masses, Adventists still are misunderstood. Pray for those who suffer for their faith in South Korea.
Narrator 1: [Child 6 carries Taiwan’s flag across platform.] Taiwan is a small island off the coast of China. Most of the country’s Adventist members come from the original tribes who live primarily in the hill country. Only one in every 25,000 ethnic Chinese in Taiwan is an Adventist. Pray that God will touch the hearts of these people who need to know that Jesus died for them.
Narrator 2: Today our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help lift up the hands of our brothers and sisters in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division. A portion of our offering today will help provide some vital tools to lead others to Jesus and to strengthen those who believe.
Child 1: [Child holding Japanese flag steps forward and holds his/her flag high.] A church for a congregation of new believers on the island of Amami Oshima [ah-MAH-mee OH-shee-mah] in southern Japan.
Child 2: [Child holding Mongolian flag steps forward and holds his/her flag high.] A youth training center at the new Adventist youth camp located outside the capital city of Mongolia. This youth training center will be dedicated to teaching young people to be leaders in the church and in society.
Child 3: [Child holding Korean flag steps forward and holds flag high.] Part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering today will help a special group of people living in Korea to have a church of their own. These are people who have come to Korea to live and work. They don’t understand Korean well, but they can speak English. They want to worship God in a language they can understand. Let’s help them build a church so that they can reach out to others like them who still need to know that God loves them.
Child 4: [Child holding Taiwanese flag steps forward and holds flag high.] Three years ago part of our special Thirteenth Sabbath Offering was used to establish a recording studio in Taiwan where programs are
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prepared in Mandarin Chinese for radio and television.
Child 5: [Child holding Chinese flag steps forward and holds flag high.] Today part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will be used to prepare more television programs that can be broadcast on TV and through the Internet to the Chinese-speaking people around the world.
Child 6: [Child holding North Korean flag steps forward and holds flag high.] We don’t know how many Christians live in North Korea. But we know there are some. We know from people who have lived there that at least a few of these Christians are Seventh-day Adventists. Life is hard for them. Let’s pray that God will protect and bless His children in this country where Christianity is a foreign religion.
Narrator 1: We can help make a difference in the countries of Northern Asia-Pacific. When we give our mission offerings and when we pray, it helps the people who know Jesus to share God’s love with their friends. And part of our Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will make a big difference for the people who attend the international church in Seoul, Korea, [point to Seoul, Korea on the map]; to the new believers on the island of Amami Oshima in southern Japan [point to the islands of southern Japan]; to the young people in Mongolia [point to Mongolia]; and to the Chinese-speaking people around the world [point to China and Taiwan, then sweep your hand over the rest of the map]. Let’s do our part today to share God’s love with our family members in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division.
[Offering]
Future Thirteenth Sabbath ProjectsNext quarter the Southern Asia-
Pacific Division will be featured. Special projects include help for two hospitals in Indonesia and a school in Myanmar.
Third quarter 2012 will feature the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. Projects will include a university in Madagascar, a church and school in South Africa, and solar-powered MP3 players for the Himba people in Namibia.
J A P A NBackground: white | Circle: red
Flags of Northern Asia-Pacific Division
C H I N ABackground: red | Stars: yellow
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M O N G O L I ALeft and right stripe: red-orange | Center stripe: light blue | Emblem: yellow
Flags of Northern Asia-Pacific Division
K O R E ABackground: white | Circle-top half: red | Circle-bottom half: blue
For flags of Taiwan and North Korea, go to www.AdventistMission.org. Click on “Resources” and on “Mission quarterlies.” Find activities for first quarter 2010.
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L e t ’ s T r y C h o p s t i c k s
Throughout Asia people eat noodles. And they eat them with chopsticks. In Korea they even eat noodle soup with chopsticks. It’s not as hard as it seems to eat with chopsticks, at least when a child has grown up with them. Offer children an experience in eating with chopsticks. Buy inexpensive wooden chopsticks from an Asian market or
Chinese restaurant and make a large batch of Ramen noodles (which are easier to grasp because they’re curly). Offer children a small bowl of noodles, a pair of chopsticks, and a large napkin to serve as a bib. Then watch the fun. And for the juice that remains, offer a spoon or encourage children to drink it from the bowl.
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Send a missionary home with the children in your Sabbath School
class each week. Adventist Mission Cards for Kids contains profiles of 12 children featured in the children’s mission quarterly. Each card contains a photo, country information, and fun facts about where the mission offerings go each quarter.
This new product from the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission and Children’s Ministries can make mission stories more tangible for kids.
Place your order on the North American Division Sabbath School Standing Order Form or call 1-800-456-3991.
SEND MISSION HOME!
Mission Cards are just US$7.49 per quarter for a pack of five sets.
For more information contact us by visiting www.AdventistMission.org or by calling 1-800-648-5824. Please use the information below to order the cards.
2012•QUARTER 1 • NORTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION
C H I L D R E N ’ S M A G A Z I N E
M I S S I O N C A R D S F O R K I D S
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Leader’s ResourcesE D I TO R I A L
Charlotte Ishkanian Editor
Hans Olson Managing Editor
Emily Harding Layout Editor
O F F I C E O F A D V E N T I S T M I S S I O N
Gary Krause Director
Rick Kajiura Communication Director
Nancy Kyte Marketing Director
Delbert Pearman Planning Director
C O M M U N I C AT I O N
Laurie Falvo Projects Manager
Charlotte Ishkanian Mission Editor
Hans Olson Projects Manager
Daniel Weber Video Producer
Website: www.AdventistMission.org
Children’s Mission (ISSN 0190-4108) is produced and
copyrighted © 2012 by the Office of Adventist Mission,
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 12501
Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6601, USA.
Printed in U.S.A.
First Quarter 2012
Volume 58, Number 1
ADVENTIST® and SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST® are the
registered trademarks of the General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists®.
Permission is granted to reproduce material from
this quarterly for use in local Sabbath Schools
and children’s ministries programs. Permission
to reproduce any portion of this material for
sale, publication in another periodical, or other
commercial use must be authorized in writing by
the editor at the above address.
For subscription inquiries, e-mail Steve Hanson
at [email protected] or call 1-800-456-3991 or
1-301-393-3247. Annual subscription rates per
edition: domestic, US$7.50; international, US$14.50.
Following are sources of information that have proved helpful in preparing for the mission segment of Sabbath School.
For more information on the culture and history of China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan, the countries featured this quarter, look in the travel section of a local library or go online and type the name of the country you want information about into your search engine.
Visit our website for additional photos, recipes, language pages, and other activities that you can download and print to make mission more fun for children. Go to www.AdventistMission.org. Click on “Resources” and “Children’s Activities” in the pop-up menu. Select first quarter, and choose the activities you want.
Adventist Mission DVD is a free video that features stories from Northern Asia-Pacific as well as the worldwide mission of the Adventist Church. Ask your Sabbath School superintendent to make you a copy of it. Or go online at www.AdventistMission.org to download the special children’s DVD program.
Remind Sabbath School members that the ongoing work of the world church depends on the weekly Sabbath School mission offerings. One fourth of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering is dedicated to the special projects featured this quarter. The remaining three fourths go into the world mission fund to support the worldwide mission work of the Adventist Church.
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